Method for displaying a video stream according to a customised format

Abstract

A method for displaying a video stream according to a format defined by a user, wherein a graphic element is superimposed on the displayed video stream, and wherein the dimensions and/or position of the graphic element are modified as a function of commands received from the user, so as to define a screen area in which a certain portion of the frames of the video stream is displayed. The video stream is then displayed in a format wherein, for each frame, the frame portion defined by the graphic element is displayed with altered dimensions and/or position on the screen.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for displaying a selected portion of a video stream according to a format defined by a user, on a screen having a first aspect ratio,
 the method comprising:
 superimposing a graphic element on the video stream while the video stream is displayed according to a first format; 
 selecting a portion of the video stream displayed according to the first format by modifying, as a function of commands received from said user, dimensions and/or position of said graphic element, so as to define a screen area in which a portion of the video stream is displayed and having any second aspect ratio defined by the user, wherein the screen area is inside the graphic element and wherein the portion of the video stream displayed according to the first format inside the graphic element is visible in the screen area defined by the graphic element, and wherein the first aspect ratio of the screen and the second aspect ratio of the selected portion are different from each other; 
 changing the first format of the portion of the video stream, wherein said selected portion is displayed in the second format; and 
 only displaying said selected portion of the video stream in the second format, wherein for each frame of said video stream, a frame portion associated with the defined screen area is displayed in the second format expanded on the screen and wherein the selected portion is enlarged to match at least one of the dimensions of any one side of the selected portion with a dimension of a corresponding side of the screen, while preserving the aspect ratio of said selected portion of the frame. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame portion defined by said graphic element is displayed expanded in a manner such that only one dimension of said frame portion corresponds in said second format to a dimension of said screen, while preserving an aspect ratio of said frame portion. 
     
     
       3. A method according to  claim 2 , wherein said frame portion is automatically centered on said screen prior to being displayed. 
     
     
       4. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame portion defined by said graphic element is displayed in a manner such that both dimensions of said frame portion correspond in said second format to dimensions of said screen. 
     
     
       5. A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the user can further change the position on said screen of said frame portion displayed in expanded form on said screen can be changed. 
     
     
       6. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one area of said frame portion defined by said graphic element is further cut, and the remaining uncut frame portion is displayed in a manner such that a minor dimension of said uncut frame portion corresponds in said second format to a dimension of said screen. 
     
     
       7. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said steps are carried out after the user issues a signal for resizing said video stream on said screen, and wherein said first format is automatically selected in a manner such as to make the entire content of the frames of said video stream visible on said screen. 
     
     
       8. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein said steps are interrupted upon a user's command, and after said interruption said video stream is displayed on the screen in the same display format which was active prior to said user's signal. 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said graphic elements define a rectangle. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the sides of said rectangle can be translated upon the user's command. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein display settings associated with said second display format are stored in a memory, said settings comprising, in particular, information about the dimensions of the frame portion to be displayed. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said settings can be recalled by selecting a name from a list. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said settings can be recalled by selecting a frozen frame of any image that constitutes the video stream. 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said settings are recalled automatically as a function of information carried by said video stream. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said information carried by said video stream is chosen from an information group including: original format of said video stream; television channel broadcasting said video stream; title of the DVD or Blu-ray disc or name of the file being played; television broadcaster name or identifier; TV program title; TV program type; TV program broadcasting date and time. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein the user defines a plurality of display formats, wherein the settings concerning said plurality of display formats are stored into a memory area, and wherein said method for displaying said images comprises the step of recalling one format of said plurality of stored formats as a function of information carried by said video stream. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 11 , wherein said settings are recalled automatically as a function of the video source from which said video stream is being received, in particular as a function of the video input from which the displayed video stream is coming. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a procedure for modifying a display format defined by said user and stored in a memory area, said procedure comprising the steps of:
 displaying said video stream in a format that allows the entire content of the frames of said video stream to be displayed on said screen, 
 displaying said graphic element with a shape and in a position which correspond to the frame portion to be displayed according to said stored format, 
 modifying the shape and/or position of said graphic element as a function of commands received from said user, 
 storing in a memory information necessary for displaying said video stream according to a third format wherein, for each frame of said stream, the frame portion defined by said modified graphic element is displayed expanded on the screen. 
 
     
     
       19. A device for displaying a video stream, comprising means adapted to implement the method according to  claim 1 .